History: The First 55 Years

Society for the Blind was born in 1953 when a group of Adult Blind from Sacramento County formed an association to open a center where blind and visually impaired people could meet and interact with one another. On October 14, 1954 the Sacramento Valley Center for the Blind was incorporated.

With buildings provided by the  Lions Clubs of District 4c5, the Center was able to open its doors -- on 30th Street in 1956, 27th Street in 1963, and finally at our present site, 2750 24th Street, on December 1, 1967.

While the original intent of the Society was to provide a congregating space for people in the Sacramento area who were blind or had low vision, by the early 70's the name had changed from "Center for the Blind" to "Society for the Blind" and a new philosophy had been established. The new philosophy included providing life and job skills training, counseling, and access to help and tools for the thousands of blind and visually impaired people in Sacramento and the surrounding areas.

In 1970, the Society launched the Self-Reliance Institute, an eight-week summer program designed to meet the unique needs of blind and visually impaired teenagers. This program helped over 200 teenagers make an easier transition to school, work, and independent living. Facets of the Institute live on through our Youth Enrichment Program.

In October 1975 the Society established one of the first low-vision clinics in Northern California. This enhanced the value of the Society by providing services for a greater number of people.

In 1978, the Senior Self-Reliance Program was launched. Now called the Senior IMPACT Project, this program has given thousands of blind seniors the chance to learn daily living skills through a committed, supportive program.

In 1982, funded by a grant from the Delta Gamma Alumnae, the Aids to Independence Store was formed. This store has hundreds of tools -- from white canes to cooking tools to talking watches -- to help people who are blind or have low vision with everyday living.

In the late 1990's, Society for the Blind received a government grant which enabled the development of Sacramento Access News. This is a free service which allows print-impaired Californians to use their phone to access a database containing hundreds of hours of up-to-date voice recordings of newspaper and magazine articles, sales ads, community calendars and more. Over fifty volunteers keep this program thriving.

A government grant early in the new century helped the Society to establish the Career Development Program. This program gives working-age blind people access to training, counseling and job-seeking assistance, allowing them to enter and maintain their positions in the working world.

In the past few years, Society for the Blind has established programs for computers and adaptive technology, allowing clients to access the internet, email, and the document, spreadsheet, and database software commonly used. The upswing in technology over the past decade has helped break down the barriers that prevent individuals who are blind or have low vision from living and working productively and independently.

 Society for the Blind has grown out of our current 4,200 square foot facility.  On December 31, 2005, we purchased a new 20,000 square foot building near downtown Sacramento. We are currently renovating the building with the vision of providing a world-class blindness agency for the Sacramento community. Click here to learn more about our new building!